[Husker] Kent McCloughan

[Bob Beach]

On 2/12/2005 at 6:52 AM Monty Perry wrote:

>>He states in this article, that he was drafted in the 3rd round by 
>>Washington, and the 11th round by Houston. This was at a time when I was 
>>quite young, so I'm guessing that the AFL and NFL had separate drafts 
>>then???




     Yes they did.  The NFL was an older established league when the AFL came along in 1960.  Pittsburgh, the then Baltimore Colts, and the Art Modell Cleveland Browns (who are now the Baltimore Ravens) were in the old NFL.  The AFL and NFL were separate leagues and each had their own Commissioner, draft, and championship game.  Then on Jan, 15, 1967 it was agreed each league champion would play each other and they would call it the Super Bowl.  On Jan. 12, 1969 the Jets beat the Baltimore Colts in the Super Bowl which was one of the biggest upsets ever.  In 1970 the two leagues merged with the Steelers, Colts, and Browns going to the AFC.  So, instead of two separate leagues it became one league with two conferences as we know it today.  One thing I have always wondered about.  In the early years the AFL wasn't wildly popular.  The old NFL dominated the scene.  It is very likely we wouldn't have the history we have had the Colts beat the Jets in the 1969 Super Bowl.  The Colts were much the better team and after Lombardi's Packers had thrashed the Chiefs and the Raiders in the first two Super Bowls another NFL thrashing might have just done in the AFL or at least held off the merger for a few more years. 


Bob Beach